No movement from employer in White Rock labour dispute

WHITE ROCK, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 15, 2014) - CUPE workers are frustrated and questioning how City negotiators could come back to the bargaining table today unprepared and with no proposals to assist in getting to a settlement.

CUPE 402-01 President Mike Guraliuk said that the union presented the City with a package which included a Long-Term Disability plan, paid by employees and administered by the City, similar to the Firefighters' LTD plan. "The City negotiators claimed that they didn't even have enough information about their own plan with the Firefighters to discuss this with us today. Given that long-term disability has been a key issue in this dispute, we would expect that the employer would come to the table ready to discuss options," said Guraliuk.

Shortly after 4 p.m. City negotiators advised that they were leaving. Guraliuk said that there had been no discussion of other issues proposed by the union and no movement towards a settlement.

"White Rock citizens need to ask our Mayor and Council why their bargaining representatives were not prepared and ready to seriously work at getting a settlement. It seems that they are not taking the disruption of services for residents and businesses seriously at all," said Guraliuk.

Other issues in the dispute include fair treatment for part-time and casual employees and clear hours of work for employees. The union began full strike action at all city facilities on Monday, May 12.